Method and apparatus for sharing co-generated energy when processing essential elements derived from plant matter

Abstract

Methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may provide electrical energy and thermal to extraction or separation equipment. Methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may extract and concentrate essential elements plant matter. An amount of wasted heat energy collected from an engine that powers an electrical generator may be provided to an evaporation or separation process when electrical power is provided to extraction or separation processing equipment. Computers or electronics that control equipment consistent with the present disclosure may be remotely controlled via a mobile electronic device, when desired. Such computers or electronics may receive sensor data related to the operation of plant matter extractors, related separation equipment, or other equipment may be used to manage a production line. As such, methods and apparatus consistent with the present disclosure may extract essential elements from cannabis plant matter and process those essential elements into cannabis extracts or isolates.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling energy distribution, the method comprising:
 heating at least a portion of a first separator by transferring thermal energy generated by operation of an engine to the first separator; 
 providing a chilled fluid to a first condenser; 
 providing a flow of a cannabinoid containing material into an input of the first separator that results in:
 a first substance included in the cannabinoid containing material being evaporated when the at least portion of the first separator is heated to an evaporation temperature, and 
 the first substance being condensed at the first condenser based on a cooling temperature associated with the first condenser; 
 
 monitoring an amount of electrical power provided to power a plurality of devices by an electronic control system, wherein the monitored amount of electrical power is generated by an electrical generator coupled to the engine; and 
 making an adjustment by the electronic control system to maintain at least one of the evaporation temperature at the first separator or the cooling temperature associated with the first condenser according to a power budget when the amount of power provided to the plurality of devices approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold level of the power budget. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment made by the control system includes changing a flow rate of the flow of the cannabinoid containing material into the input of the first separator. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment made by the control system includes changing a rotation speed of a wiper of the first separator. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a volume of solvent to a first vessel that is coupled to the input of the first separator when the cannabinoid containing material is created. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first vessel contains  cannabis  plant matter and the cannabinoid containing material is an eluate that includes cannabinoids and the volume of solvent. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising turning on a stimulation apparatus that stimulates the  cannabis  plant matter, wherein the stimulation apparatus includes at least one of one or more nozzles, a sonic or ultrasonic emitter, a microwave emitter, a centrifuge, a stirring arm, a stirring magnet, a cavitation stimulator, a pump, a solvent pump, or a chopper pump. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first vessel includes a cannabinoid containing extract that is combined with the volume of solvent when the cannabinoid containing material is created. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustment made by the control system includes changing an amount of electrical energy provided to a device of an extraction apparatus device, wherein the extraction apparatus device is one device of the plurality of devices. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a flow of materials to a second separator from an output at the first separator; 
 controlling a temperature at the second separator; and 
 condensing a second substance from the flow of materials output from the first separator at a second condenser. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 providing at least one material from the flow of materials to a third separator from an output at the second separator; 
 controlling a temperature at the third separator; and 
 condensing a third substance at a third condenser. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising moving the engine, the first separator, and the condenser on one or more vehicles to a location where the cannabinoid containing material is processed. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring by the control system an amount of electrical power received from a power source other than the generator that is provided to at least one of the plurality of devices; and 
 controlling an amount of power provided from the generator according to a power profile that identifies a first and a second target power consumption level, the first target power consumption level corresponding to electrical power provided by the generator and the second power consumption level corresponding to power provided by the other electrical power source. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the controlling of the power according to the power profile includes maximizing the power provided by the generator when a cost associated with providing a number of watts or watt hours by the generator is less than a cost associated with providing the number of watts or watt hours by the other power source. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing a first type of fuel to the engine; and 
 switching the type of fuel provided to the engine to a second type of fuel. 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing materials output from the first condenser to a second condenser coupled to the first condenser; 
 controlling a temperature associated with the second condenser; and 
 condensing a second substance at the second condenser. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 providing materials output from the second condenser to a third condenser coupled to the second condenser; 
 controlling a temperature associated with the third condenser; and 
 condensing a third substance at the third condenser. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the control system:
 receiving sensor data identifying a concentration of carbon related materials output as part of an exhaust gas from the engine; and 
 providing a portion of the exhaust gas to an area where plants are present to provide the plants with additional carbon related materials based on the sensor data. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the control system:
 receiving sensor data that identifies a concentration of the carbon related materials in the area; 
 identifying that the concentration of carbon related materials in the area approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold concentration level; and 
 reducing an amount of the exhaust gas provided to the area based on the identified concentration level of carbon related materials in the area. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising identifying that additional heat energy should to be added to the generated thermal energy to maintain the temperature at the first separator, wherein the adjustment made by the electronic control system includes providing the additional heat energy to the generated thermal energy. 
     
     
       20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor for implementing a method for controlling energy distribution, the method comprising:
 heating at least a portion of a separation apparatus by transferring thermal energy generated by operation of an engine to the separation apparatus; 
 providing a chilled fluid to a condenser; 
 providing a flow of a cannabinoid containing material into an input of the separation apparatus that results in:
 a first substance included in the cannabinoid containing material being evaporated when the at least portion of the separation apparatus is heated to an evaporation temperature, and 
 the first substance being condensed at the condenser based on a cooling temperature associated with the condenser; 
 
 monitoring an amount of electrical power provided to power a plurality of devices by an electronic control system, wherein the monitored amount of electrical power is generated by an electrical generator coupled to the engine; and 
 making an adjustment by the electronic control system to maintain at least one of the evaporation temperature at the separation apparatus or the cooling temperature associated with the condenser according to a power budget when the amount of power provided to the plurality of devices approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold level of the power budget. 
 
     
     
       21. A system for implementing a method for controlling energy distribution, the system comprising:
 a separator that evaporates a first substance from a cannabinoid containing material; 
 a condenser that is provided a chilled fluid to condense; 
 an engine that heats at least a portion of the separator to a temperature that evaporates the first substance included in the cannabinoid containing material; 
 providing a flow of a cannabinoid containing material into an input of the separator that results in:
 a first substance included in the cannabinoid containing material being evaporated when the at least portion of the separator is heated to an evaporation temperature, and 
 the first substance being condensed at the condenser based on a cooling temperature associated with the condenser; 
 
 monitoring an amount of electrical power provided to power a plurality of devices by an electronic control system, wherein the monitored amount of electrical power is generated by an electrical generator coupled to the engine; and 
 making an adjustment by the electronic control system to maintain at least one of the evaporation temperature at the separator or the cooling temperature associated with the condenser according to a power budget when the amount of power provided to the plurality of devices approaches, meets, or exceeds a threshold level of the power budget.